[Apple]
This is my third bonus shift this week at the Trail’s End Diner. I’ve been taking on all the extra work I can to free myself of this hell hole and I’m almost there. Just one more day of work and I’ll have enough to drive away and leave this place forever.
“Order up!” I grab the food from underneath the light and weave my way around customers to set a too-greasy hamburger and fries in front of an older gentleman with a wandering hand. I’ve been avoiding my stepfather’s touches since my breasts first budded, so I have learned how to avoid such advances.
If I were bolder, I might scream when his hand finds my hip instead of my ass or thigh. But I don’t want trouble. I just want to finish my shift and go home.
“Hey Apple,” Tony from the post office walks in with a big smile on his face, “I saw this and thought you might want it before you went home.” He pulls a large envelope with the words “Crescent City University” written in bold black font. “You know what they say about big envelopes,” he winks and walks away. “Congratulations Apple!”
Waving my thanks back to him I ignore the grumbling of my boss as I declare I’m taking my break and go outside to open my letter.
“The Admissions Office of Crescent City University would like to extend our invitation to Apple Blossom LeRoux to join our Fall cohort. The first day of school is August 19th. Tuition is due by August 20th…”
That’s only 6 days from now. A spot must have opened up at the last minute. My grades weren’t as strong as they could have been, so I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t get in. Seeing that I made it, I don’t care what I’ll need to do, I’m going! This is my ticket out of here!
Some people love the small-town life, but for me, this place is just a reminder of pain and heartbreak. Now that my mother is gone, dead for almost a year, there is nothing left to keep me.
Except for Zion. It’ll be hard to keep our relationship going once I move to the city, but I’m sure we can make it work. We’ve been dating since I turned 18, four years ago. He’s two years older, so he wanted to make sure I was an “adult” before he touched me.
But there is one step we haven’t taken. The biggest step. Tonight, I will finally give him my virginity. I’ve been too shy or too scared before, but now I know I’m ready. I want to have that connection with him before I leave. I want him to have something to remember me by.
Walking into the diner I tell my boss that tonight is my last night. Angry, he tells me he’ll mail my last check and sends me out the door. 6 years of loyal work suddenly meant nothing as soon as I told him I wanted to move on with my life.
Taking his rejection in stride, I jump in my car and head over to Zion’s house.
Zion is the mayor’s son and lives at the top of Hillcrest Drive, with all the other affluent families. As my mother’s old car sputters up the hill for what will probably be the last time in a long time, I am glad that I am moving to a completely flat city.
Zion doesn’t like his parents knowing I visit him at night, so I go around back to enter our “secret” way. He gave me a key to the garage so I could enter through the laundry room and sneak around the maid's quarters.
As soon as I turn the key and enter his home, I run to his room, knowing that he is likely there studying for his Chemistry exam. “Zion! Guess what I….”
“Ah, harder!” A high-pitched voice moans followed by the wet slapping sound of flesh on flesh.
Is he watching p**n again? The last time I disturbed him in one of these “private moments” he got so mad at me for coming to his house early he didn’t speak to me for a week. I was so excited about school that I forgot his rule. Not wanting to embarrass him, I step away. Maybe I should have called first.
“Deeper, Zion, harder, ah!!” The voice calls out louder this time and I know it isn’t the TV. The TV wouldn’t be calling out his name.
Pushing open the door, I see my boyfriend, his pants down around his ankles, his ass pumping back and forth as he pushes himself into the wide, open legs of a beautiful blonde girl, her pretty pink toenails on her dainty feet matching her perfectly manicured fingernails that she uses to claw down his back.
I don’t know what to do. I feel like I should walk away, but I can’t stop watching. I can’t bear to walk out the door.
“You're so tight,” he groans as he continues oblivious to the fact that I am standing behind him. “Oh, I love how tight your pussy is.” He leans over and greedily suckles her breasts, so much fuller than my own and she moans in ecstasy.
“Zion, oh yes baby,” she pounds her hips into him with greater force. Another piece of my heart shattering with each enthusiastic thrust.
Their thrusting grows more feral and frantic. She screams, cutting his back with her nails as she climaxes, and with a final grunt, like a satisfied pig, Zion releases as well.
As they separate, the girl looks up at me with a large, satisfied smile on her face. Stunned, I take a staggering step back.
She knew I was there the whole time.
“Did you find the show educational, little sister?” Unable to believe my eyes, I see my stepsister throw on my boyfriend’s shirt to cover her nakedness as Zion blanches, his hands reaching to cover his now deflating manhood.
“Tansy,” I gasp, choking. “Why?”
“Why not,” she snorts. “Did you think a grown man like Zion was going to keep waiting for you? Someone needed to give him the attention he deserves.”
“Stop, Tansy,” he hisses, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She ignores him. “The way I see it, you stole him from me.” She looks down at her fingernails, smirking. “Who do you think he was fucking while he waited for you to come of age? When you still wouldn’t give it up we started back up right where we left off.”
Looking over at Zion, my eyes blurry with tears, I ask. “Zion, is this true?”
Avoiding my gaze he won’t turn to face me.
“You know what, Apple, maybe you should run home like a good little girl and tell your Mommy all…oops,” she places a hand over her mouth. “That’s right, your mommy is dead.”
Clenching my fists, I crumple my acceptance letter that only a moment ago I was so proud to show off to Zion. As I turn to leave I announce my good news. “You two are free to do whatever you want now. I’m leaving for Crescent City tomorrow.”
“Good luck with that!” Tansy laughs. “It’ll be hard to sign up for classes without money.”
She doesn’t know about my hidden savings account. I kept it to myself. So I march out of that room confident that she is just blowing hot air and trying to get me riled up.
“Just watch, Apple, you’re going to come crawling back here soon enough, but guess what, there won’t be anywhere for you to go! You are so pathetic!”
Her laughter follows me as I run back to my car. There is no reason for me to stay here and endure this torture.
When I get home, I find all of the lights are on.
Leaving my letter in my car, I cautiously enter the house. Since my mom died a year ago, my stepfather has been less and less predictable. Sometimes he’s drunk. Other times he’s high. Often he’s looking for cash or his next fix. It’s grown bad enough that I no longer store anything valuable in the house.
Which is why he is now searching through the closets for the last of my mother’s things. He mooched off of her while she was alive, letting her pay all the bills while he lazed about, and now that she has died from stress and overwork, he is taking what is left of her.
My vision blurs with anger as I find enough courage to say. “Doc, what are you doing? Those things belong to my mother!”
He turns around slowly. Tonight it appears he is both drunk and high. Great. “Your mother is dead you little bitch,” he belches as he places a hand down his pants to scratch his balls. As his eyes rove my body, I see his manhood twitch and my stomach rolls with disgust.
“You know what, I don’t care what you do,” I grumble as I pick the last of my mother’s keepsakes up off the ground and shove them into the tipped-over shoebox that had once contained them. “You already sold everything she had, but why don’t you keep looking,” I suggest sarcastically.
He raises his hand to slap me, but I move at the last minute and he falls on his face, knocking himself out. Using this as an opportunity, I collect my few remaining things, shove them in a backpack along with my mother’s shoebox, and head out the door.
I don’t need this misery. I’m done.
Crescent City here I come.
[Apple]Crescent City is the nearest metropolis to Pleasant Valley and home to the largest population of supernaturals on the West Coast. Mostly werewolves, and maybe a few witches, they stick to their own kind for the most part, although they go to school and work side by side with humans. Growing up in Pleasant Valley, an all-human community, I didn't encounter many supernaturals. Which is why it was so startling to find myself in the middle of a city full of them. At first, I look around in awe, mesmerized by the bright lights and vivid sounds, but then as I drive around downtown I realize two very important things:Number 1--I don’t know where I’m going.Number 2--After three hours of driving to get here, I’m starving.My idiot ex-boss didn’t even let me gather my tips before I left, and my wallet was empty. I can’t touch the money in my savings account--that’s for school. So I’m stuck to my secret car stash of cash that I keep in the car. Reaching under the seat, my fingers fi
[Apple]Excited about my first lead on a real job, I rush to my car and begin the drive to the other side of town. Turning on my radio, I discover that all of my stations have changed with the new location, and it takes a moment to find one playing something I can sing along with.When an ad for Rental Luna plays, I turn it off. Disgusted. I couldn’t imagine a job more pathetic or degrading than being a Rental Luna. I’d rather scrape gum off the bottoms of tables than sell myself off by the hour. Hopefully, if all goes well here, I won’t have to worry about that potential future. I get a few strange looks, and a few awkward sniffs in my direction as I push my way in through the revolving door. I wonder if my body odor is especially bad. I tend to sweat when I’m nervous. Discreetly, I take a brief sniff. I smell okay to me. Maybe they have a few werewolves working here. As I approach the main reception desk, I hold out the ad and announce that I’d like to apply for their entry-leve
[Apple]"No," I gasp. "I'm human." “Human?” He takes a step back, wiping his nose to clear the smell. “Are you sure?”“Yup, since the day I was born,” I try to make a joke but he isn’t smiling. “My town is a human-only community.” “Human-only,” he curls his lip. “How quaint.” A curious expression crosses his face.“If you are a human raised in an all-human community, why did you come looking for a job here? At a werewolf-run corporation? How did you show up here as my Rental Luna?”“I’m not your Rental Luna,” I repeat. “There’s been a mistake. This is the wrong job.”“Obviously,” he laughs. His laughter stings. I already feel stupid, and having him laugh at my mistake is embarrassing. “I was supposed to meet with the Beta to interview for the entry-level position, but I got off on the wrong floor,” I look down. “I didn’t realize my mistake until your assistant brought me to you.” A tear rolls down my cheek, followed by another. “I didn’t know it was a werewolf pack. All I knew wa
[Apple] My attacker releases me, dropping to the floor, showing his neck in supplication to the man growling behind him. Alpha Sylvester Sterling. “For the crime of touching my Luna, you are hereby dismissed from your position,” he snaps his teeth, now slightly pointed. “Yes, Alpha,” the wolfman grovels. Sylvester reaches down and with a single claw, scrapes a large, long “r” across his back as the man screams. “You are packless now, rogue,” the Alpha spits in rage. “Any wolf low enough to attack a defenseless woman is not honorable enough for the Silver Crescent pack or any other pack within our organization.” “Please Alpha, mercy,” he begs pathetically, dropping his chest to the pavement. “I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t know she was yours.” “I am not your Alpha anymore,” Sylvester’s eyes are glowing like blue fire. “Now get out of here before I change my mind about skinning you and leaving your hide on the side of the building as a warning to others.” Becoming a rogue
[Apple] This is my second morning waking up in Crescent City and it feels like I’ve already been here a year. Monday I quit my old life. Tuesday was a nightmare. Today is Wednesday. The day I try my hand at being a Rental Luna for the biggest pack on the West Coast. I’m expecting the Beta to arrive by 7:30. That gives me just enough time for a quick run, shower, and breakfast before heading out. I’ve only just gotten out of the shower when I hear a loud banging on the door. Throwing a t-shirt haphazardly over my wet, naked body and wrapping my long damp hair in a towel, I rush to open it before my roommates wake up. I haven’t met any of them yet, and this is not how I want to make my first impression. “Um, hello,” I open the door and find a handsome young werewolf with long blonde hair braided off of his face, warm brown eyes, and a genuine smile. “Ms. LeRoux?” His voice is a question, when I nod his smile widens. “I’m Beta Randolph Forrester. I’m here to take you to work.”
[Apple]“What’s this?” I pull out a tiny glass vial filled with a liquid that swirls and glows green in the sunlight.“That is a scent-enhancer.” He tries to explain. “They are illegal because they can be used to mask a wolf’s true scent. They are often sought out by omegas who are trying to escape their fates by landing gamma or beta mates.”Something this valuable must have cost a small fortune. “A dab of that behind each ear and the crook of each knee, and most people who sniff you will think you are a Luna without question.” He nods his head while keeping his eyes on the road. “I got the strongest stuff the witch had…and she threw in a little extra scent since you have no scent to enhance.” “Thank…thank you,” I say, not sure what else I can do as I follow his instructions, placing a small drop behind each ear and knee. “For everything this morning. I appreciate it.”His cheeks redden at my unexpected praise, “It's nothing, Luna. Just doing my job.” When we pull up to the front o
[Apple]Taking up the entire door frame is Alpha Sly Sterling, his eyes wide with shock as he looks down at the tattered remains of the employee handbook. “Ahh…Alpha,” I stutter. “I didn’t realize you were standing there.” He looks down at the handbook now lying on the floor in three large chunks. Taking a bold step forward, he shuts the door behind him. In his hand is a manila envelope, which I am guessing must hold my new contract. He came to discuss the job and I threw a book at him.“I am so sorry,” I begin to cry, my makeup runs down my face. He doesn’t say anything as he tilts his head upward, his nostrils flaring. I walk around the desk, trying to stay as far away from him as I can, but he flows my movements, moving in sync as he slowly closes the gap. Reaching forward, he grabs my arm, places it on his face, and breathes deeply.“Beta Rudy got the scent for me…um…do you like it?”He walks me backwards, pressing me into a wall.“No,” his eyes glow bright blue as they snap o
[Sylvester]What have I done?Wrapped in what remains of her dress, her skin red and raw from where I rubbed myself against her, she is frozen, reeking of fear and the lingering smell of another wolf. If I stand here one minute longer, Rufus will take over again. And if he does, I can’t be sure he won’t try to claim her as his on the floor of her office, where everyone in the pack can hear us.“We need to get ourselves under control, Rufus!” My wolf, Rufus, growls in response as he paces back and forth through my mind, demanding we go back and finish what we started. “Don’t deny it,” he barks,” You felt it too.” I won’t consider what he is suggesting. It is impossible. Those were not tingles, that was simply the anticipation of the hunt, the desire to mark and claim every attractive female that crosses my path. Stupid Alpha male stuff. “Rudy,” I call over my shoulder to my Beta, who is waiting outside my office. “Take care of the new Luna she…she needs you more than I do.” Rudolp